Working as a Tradesperson in Ekurhuleni

Ekurhuleni, the East Rand, is the big Gauteng metro where much of the solar work runs through Eskom rather than the municipality, because large parts of the area are Eskom-supplied. It also publishes one of the clearest lists in the country of what does and does not need plan approval, and it gives approved plans a 12-month shelf life. Both facts change how you quote.

Which municipality governs you

The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality governs the East Rand, covering towns including Benoni, Boksburg, Germiston, Kempton Park, Springs and Brakpan. Plan applications are lodged at the relevant Customer Care Area (CCA), so identify your CCA before you lodge anything.

How building plan approval works here

Ekurhuleni enforces the National Building Regulations under Act 103 of 1977, with work designed and built to the SANS 10400 standards, and its building control FAQ is refreshingly explicit about what needs approval. Always requiring approval: new buildings, extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions, internal alterations, carports and conservatories. Like-for-like roof tile replacement does not need approval, but a change of material type may. And the East Rand quirk: all drainage work needs an application, regardless of scale.

Two administrative rules catch contractors here. Approved plans are valid for 12 months from approval, with a 6-month written extension available, so if a client sits on a project the approval lapses and you resubmit. And an occupancy certificate (the OM046 application) must be applied for on completion: build it into the handover checklist.

SSEG and solar registration

Because significant parts of Ekurhuleni are Eskom-supplied, Eskom's SSEG registration applies rather than a metro process in many areas. For Eskom customers, registration runs through Eskom's connection process. For areas the metro supplies directly, follow Ekurhuleni's embedded generation application via the relevant CCA.

The supply split matters twice. On sign-off: since 1 October 2025, on Eskom networks a DEL-registered person (excluding single-phase testers) may sign off residential systems with no ECSA engineer needed, which keeps costs down. On money: Eskom is waiving registration, connection and smart-meter fees for systems up to 50 kVA until 30 September 2026, the same date as the national registration deadline. For Eskom-supplied clients, registering before that date is materially cheaper. Always confirm who supplies the specific property before quoting.

Local by-laws to check

Use Ekurhuleni's published building control FAQ and forms as your checklist, lodge at the correct CCA, and watch the 12-month plan validity on any project that might stall. Issue every Certificate of Compliance regardless of whether an inspector appears.

Where to register and comply

Lodge plans and metro-supplied embedded generation applications at your Customer Care Area via the City of Ekurhuleni website. For Eskom-supplied properties, register the solar through Eskom before 30 September 2026 to catch the fee waiver.

Reviewed by the SiteKiln editorial team, June 2026. Municipal processes are as published mid-2026 and change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Ekurhuleni and Eskom. Guidance only, not legal advice.